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J T D. W. WHITAKER.

DRIP ATTACHMENT FDR UMBREL LAS.

No. 515,636. Patented Feb. 27, 1894-.

llllllllllll cv UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

DAVID-W. WHITAKER, OF DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR OF THREE- FOURTHSTO THOMAS E. WHITAKER, ROBERT RUFUS BRIDGERS, AND NELLIE F. BOONE, OFSAME PLACE.

DRIP ATTACHMENTJFOR UMBRELLAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersI-atent No. 515,636, dated February27, 1894. Application filed $eptemher 25, 1893, Serial No. 486,398. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

lie it known that I, DAvID W. WHITAKER, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Durham, in the countyofDurham and State of NorthCarolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in DripAttachments for Umbrellas; andI do hereby declare that the following isa full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable:0 others skilledin the art to which itappertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form apart of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a perspective viewof an umbrella equipped with my improved drip-attachment, or drip-cup,as the same appears when folded and not in use. Fig. 2 is a perspectiveview of the umbrella, with the dripattachment adjusted as when in use.Fig. 3

IS a perspective view of the drip-cup removed from the umbrella andcollapsed or folded as when not in use. Fig.4 is a perspective view ofthe drip-cup removed from the umbrella,

but extended or unfolded as when in use.

2 5 Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the umbrella stick or tip, with thedrip attachment in the form and position in which this is shown in Fig.1; and Fig. 6 is a sectional View of the umbrella tip with the drip-cupor attachment in its operative position, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

Like letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all thefigures.

This invention has relation to drip-attachments for umbrellas; t'. e.flexible, water-proof 3 5 cups or receivers adapted to be fastened, re-

movably and adjustably, upon the tip of an umbrella so as to catch thedrip when a watersoaked umbrella is folded and placed upright in a rackor corner; and it consists in the 40 novel and improved construction ofan inexpensive but efficient and easily adjustable device of that type,as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

On the accompanying drawings, the letter A denotes the tip or stick andB the cover of an umbrella of any desired size, construction andmaterial.

My improved drip-attachment consists of a peculiarly shaped cup orreceptacle of rubber fabric or other suitable elastic and waterproofmaterial, comprising two funnel-shaped parts or sections, 0 and D; thetop part D being in the form of an inverted funnel connected to thebottom funnel 0 along the rim 1). f The walls of both the parts 0 and Dare fluted or corrugated, as shown at c and d respectively; but theupper section D is somewhat smaller than the bottom part 0 so that itwill fit into it when folded or inverted, as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 5.The fluted bottom part 0 is open at the contracted end or bottom; saidbottom aperture e being provided with an elastic reinforcing ring orannulus E, adapted to fit tightly upon the tip A of the umbrella, so asto form a water-proof joint therewith. The aperture or opening a at thecontracted or smaller upper end of the reduced top section D is providedwith'a similar reinforcing ring or annulus F, which is, however, of suchdimensions that it will not 7:: fit tightly around or upon the stick,but leave a narrow annular space or opening f all around the stick,through which the drip, as it collects in the top funnel G, will findits way down into the receptacle G D. In order, however, to providemeans for holding the upper section or inverted funnel D in its extendedor operative position, shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 6, the annulus F isprovided on its inside, facing the stick, with a series of studs orprojections g g, which bear against that part of the stick or tip whichprojects through the annulus with sufficient friction to maintain theparts in their extended or inflated position to form a receptacle forthe drip water. The top funnel G is also made of rubber, and integralwith the parts D and C; the whole device being shaped, by means ofsuitably constructed molds or formers, in one piece. The object of thisfunnel is to collect go the drip as it flows down the folded cover B ofthe umbrella and conveyit through the interstices or annular space fformed by the friction-studs or projections g 9 down into the reservoirformed by the parts D and G.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings,the operation and manner of using this device will be read- 4 and 6,where it will collect all the drip and thus avoid soiling or wetting ofthe floor where the wet umbrella is placed. By again squeezing andfolding up the cup, the water is squeezed out through the narrow toporifices ff, in the act of folding up the cup, which will then resumethe form and position illustrated in Figs. 1, 3 and 5 on the drawings.In folding up the attachment when not in use, the part D is squeezedbetween the fingers and thumb of one hand, compressing the same. Thering E is then pushed inwardly toward the handle by the other hand,causing part 25 O by reason of its elasticity to fold over the part D.As the ring continues its movement the part D will fold over funnel G,as seen in Fig. 5.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States- The described drip-attachment; forumbrellas, comprising the fluted or corrugated funnel-shaped parts 0 andD connected at their large ends and having top and bottom apertures aand e, the elastic bottom annulus E, reinforcing ring F having inwardlyprojecting frietionstuds g g, and topfunnel G; substantially as and forthe purpose shown and set forth. a

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereuntoaffixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DAVID W. WHITAKER.

Witnesses:

BENNETT S. JONES, M. S. DUOKETT.

